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Randsco Site Map

Again, this is something that I've been wanting to do for some time and I believe that a site map is necessary to help those people out that have a hard time figuring out what is what on our site. I'd like to think that our menu system is easy and will work, but some people just require a site map to figure it out. So ... here you go ... a site map. (It currently sucks, which is why it's shown as display:none!)

About the Kimlers

This is where visitors can find out about Randsco and the Kimler family. Who are we? How did we come to be? What motivates us on our adventures. It's kinda like the old "meet scott and rachel" section on our PCT WebPage, but this "about us" section will be a stand-alone page.

FEATURED DONOR: Green Man T-Shirts is a super environmentally-friendly clothing company based in California. Their mission is to sell organic t-shirts and save the World. The second is a doozy, but with 25% of their profits donated to environmental causes and groups, they're off to a good start. Green Man T-Shirts uses Photo-Caption Zoom

Green Man T-Shirts is an environmentally-friendly purveyor of - you guessed it - tee shirts. (The name says it all, eh?)

And apparently more, because the "Green Man" is a legendary pagan deity that roams the woodlands of England and Europe. He is usually depicted as horned and peers out of a mask of leaves. He archetypically promotes "being one with the Earth".

Dave Urban & Rob Juszak, co-owners of Green Man T-Shirts, sell only 100% organic cotton and bamboo t-shirts made by the most ethical and environmentally conscious companies in the apparel world. In addition they also give 25% of their profits to support environmental causes and organizations.

Green Man T-Shirts utilizes Photo-Caption Zoom on a number of product-related pages. They know it's important for customers to get a detailed view of their tee shirt designs, and Photo-caption Zoom provides the added ability of including an engaging textual description with the detailed photo. It's also search-engine friendly and because it doesn't rely on Flash, JavaScript or other add-on dependent technologies - their message gets across to EVERY VISITOR.

Snoozy Hot New NCLEX Fairy

Randsco News

It takes time to create blog entries and not everything that happens, merits an entry. So, we've created this 'news' section, to keep readers up-to-date with our misadventures and accomplishments. Read about it here FIRST, before it makes it into a blog entry.

"We are aware that it's been a while since our last news conference. What can I say? Life has gotten busy."

Before proceeding with the day's events, he talked about Randsco's commitment to journalism.

"I've been a journalist at Randsco since I was 25 years old," he said, "and one of the things I've learned is that you can't be apologetic if there are lapses in news entries. If you are, you're journaling for the wrong reason. You just pick up when you left off and move forward."

One reporter asked if this meant we can expect more news articles moving forward.

"I can't predict the future," he said, "But we certainly hope so."

Hot Tub Progress

The Back Yard - Developer delays, financing issues, worker strikes, weather and equipment failure have all played a role in the delay of the Hutton House Hot Tub project.

The Kimler's picked up a hot tub from a fire hall buddy, Travis, at a bargain rate in 2008. The tub was pulled out of an in-deck installation, when Travis' family was moving to Japan and renting out their rural Cedar home.

Design differences kept the project from moving forward, till this year, when Scott gleaned some paving stones from a nearby contractor.

"Rather than pour a concrete pad," explained Scott, "We used paving stones to form a level surface on which to place the tub."

A large, covered deck was planned around the tub and work has been slowly progressing during the autumn months. A 70-foot trench, which holds electrical cables and a water line, was dug by hand. The paving stone pad was built and laid. Six-by-six posts were set and a 2x6 pressure-treated deck substructure was built.

Hutton Hen House - It appears that the three Maran chickens, which are recent additions to the growing Kimler brood, finally hit egg-laying age.

Maran chickens are famed for their deep mahogany-colored eggs. Originally a regional fowl from France. They are not as prolific layers as our ISA-Brown hybrids, but the quality of the egg is superb; they taste excellent and have great structure (even if they are a tad small, since they're pullet eggs).

NCLEX Exam

California - Reporters learned that Rachel Kimler, a Registered Nurse currently practicing in British Columbia, has successfully completed her NCLEX exam.

The NCLEX (National Council Licensure EXamination) is a computerized adaptive exam designed to test the knowledge, skills and abilities essential to the safe and effective practice of nursing at the entry level. Passing the comprehensive $300 exam is a requirement for obtaining a nursing license through (an elected) State Board of Nursing.

Making application to the California State Board of Nursing, studying for the NCLEX exam and preparing for the test, was nearly a year-long commitment by Rachel.

The test can last up to 5 hours, depending on the number of questions asked. Anywhere from 85 to 205 questions may be asked, depending on the applicants response. (The computerized adaptive testing poses a question and if the response is incorrect will "adapt" and pose additional questions, on that particular topic, in an effort to determine the applicants knowledge in that particular area.) The test is terminated after the computer is 95% certain that the candidate's ability is either above or below the passing standard.

Finishing the test quickly, is either a sign that the candidate knows their stuff, or doesn't.

Test results are mailed to candidates 6-8 weeks after the exam date.

"I was biting my fingernails for six weeks," said Rachel, "I finished the test quickly and was afraid I might have really muffed it!"

The letter arrived recently at the Hutton House. Rachel passed the exam and is now a Registered Nurse in the State of California.

"Yay!" she exclaimed, "And look, I get a plastic card, which is a lot nicer than the flimsy piece of paper I got from British Columbia!"

Though the Kimler's have no immediate plans of moving to the United States, they said, "It's nice to know that if we do, Rachel is already set up to work there."

Congrats Rachel!

Tooth Fairy to Visit

Alex's Room - Alex Kimler, who turned six years old on October 3rd, has her first loose tooth!

"Look," she says, opening her mouth, grabbing her lower right central incisor and wiggling it back and forth, "See?"

Just watching her wiggle the tooth sent a shiver down my spine!

Alex is eager to have her wiggly tooth removed and the family discussed methods for its removal.

"We could always tie a string around it and then tie the other end to a door knob, then slam the door shut, yanking out the tooth!" Mom suggested.

Alex was relatively keen on this idea.

"Hey," Dad said, "Go fetch the pliers from the garage. We can have that puppy out in a flash!"

"Ewe," squealed Alex, cupping her hand over her mouth, "Noooo!"

The dentist had a much more humane and practical method of tooth removal, one which resonated with Alex.

"Give her a caramel-covered apple!"

No matter the method of removal, it looks like the "Tooth Fairy" will be making visits to the Hutton House for the next while.